There are Two Sides to Every Story: Male Factor Infertility by Laura Sirkovsky-Kauffm

Often when the topic of infertility comes up, the majority of the time, women will be the first ones looked at. However, male factory infertility is an ever-increasing condition that is seldom talked about and not many couples know about it. Today, we are going to dive in to male factor infertility so that you have all of the facts at your fingertips.

Male factor infertility is caused by multiple factors. These include and are not limited to:
Abnormal sperm production
Motility
Blockage of sperm delivery

Or 
Low sperm production

Despite the fact that male factor infertility is infrequently discussed, it is quite common. Roughly 15% of couples in the USA struggle to conceive and of that 15%, 7.5% has been linked to male factor infertility. There are factors that can make one more prone to have male factor infertility, and some of those include: 

Hormone imbalances (testosterone levels can vary significantly from man to man)

A physical injury to the testicles (one or both)

Undescended testes 

Hernia repairs

Physical blockage of sperm delivery routes

Use of testosterone and other anabolic steroids 

Lifestyle factors can play a significant role as well. Men who smoke tobacco, have excessive alcohol consumption, have high exposure to heat (hot tubs and saunas), a poor diet, and suffer from stress are more likely to have issues related to their sperm counts. 

Let’s discuss some of the terms used previously so we can fully understand what they are. 

Abnormal sperm production is when there is a problem with sperm production. There are three major types of this and they are called azoospermia (when no sperm cells are produced), oligospermia (where few sperm cells are produced), and teratospermia (this is when a high proportion of sperm is abnormally shaped). If you would like to read more about this, Melbourne IVF has a great resource page.

Sperm Motility:
healthy sperm is said to move forward with a progression of at least 25 micrometers per second. If a man has poor motility, it could mean that his sperm is slow or sluggish aka it is not moving quickly enough. There is “non-progressive motility” which means that the sperm move less than 5 micrometers per second, and finally, no mobility. Meaning  the sperm is not moving. Causes for low sperm motility can vary, often it can be genetic, while others may have an undiagnosed condition. There is a condition named varicocele and this is when a vein inside of the mans scrotum becomes enlarged. This has often been linked with low motility. An appointment with a urologist would be able to rule out if this is a factor for you or your partner. A diagnosis for sperm motility is rather simple, it can be assessed through a semen analysis. 

Blockages:
Sometimes the tubes in which sperm travel can be blocked. This can be due to a myriad of things such as infections, previous surgeries, injuries, etc. For a proper diagnosis, meet with a male focused urologist.

Low Sperm Production:

This means that the fluid (semen) that is ejaculated during intercourse or during a sexual release contains fewer sperm than normal. You may fall under this category if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Symptoms may include problems with sexual function, low sex drive, pain swelling or a lump in the testicle area, decreased facial or body hair, or other signs of a hormonal abnormality. 

Dealing with male factor infertility can be exceedingly heartbreaking for a male partner and while Your Zen Mama primarily focus’ on the mother, it is important that with male factor infertility that not ignore the needs of the male partner at this time. Taking the time to process and understand this diagnosis can be a painful and emotional experience is incredibly important. It can lead to an identity crisis and a questioning of ones masculinity that is serious and should be supported by their partner. Therapy is a great resource for couples going through infertility and is highly encouraged for men with a diagnosis of male factor infertility.

Infertility effects both sides of a partnership and often it unfortunately falls on the shoulders of one of the partners as to why they have been unable to conceive. Remember, regardless of diagnoses, lean on each other, communicate, and talk with each other. If you and your partner are struggling to conceive and they have not been tested, be sure to have your doctor check for male factor infertility.

Laura Sirkovsky-Kauffman is currently pregnant from a frozen embryo transfer after undergoing IVF. She loves to talk to others about their experiences with getting pregnant and pregnancy. You can find her at @siftrva on Instagram or at www.siftrva.com.